The Wayro route from Coconuco to Isinliví, Ecuador is 457 miles (735 km), about 13 h 14 min of driving without stops. You cross from Colombia into Ecuador at about mile 233.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Colombia, Ecuador. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; Ecuador August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Travel only during daylight hours.”
- Ecuador: “When traveling between provinces, it is recommended to travel during daylight.”
| Distance by road | 457 mi (735 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25 NR C → E35 → E282 → E28B → E28A |
| Border crossing | about mile 233, Colombia → Ecuador |
| Regions on the route | Cauca, Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Colombia into Ecuador
The route crosses at about mile 233, from Nariño into Carchi. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Ecuador (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Ecuador | A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. |
| Entering Colombia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay (6 months recommended), with a blank page for the entry stamp. |
| The car, entering Ecuador | You must pay for Ecuador's local liability insurance, called SPPAT. For the car's temporary entry, check with Ecuador's National Customs Service. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Ecuador (updated February 18, 2026); U.S. State Department, Colombia (updated August 11, 2025). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Coconuco to Isinliví drive plays out
E35 (129 mi) and E28B (29 mi) carry about 35% of the 457 miles. The first 233 miles are in Colombia; the last 224 are in Ecuador. It runs through 6 regions: Cauca, Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Coconuco and Isinliví
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–16 | 16 | Cauca |
| connecting roads | 16–19 | 3 | Cauca |
| local roads | 19–227 | 208 | Cauca, Nariño |
| 25 NR C | 227–231 | 4 | Nariño |
| E35 | 231–338 | 107 | Nariño, Carchi, Imbabura |
| E282 | 338–345 | 7 | Imbabura, Pichincha |
| E28B | 345–374 | 29 | Pichincha |
| local roads | 374–402 | 28 | Pichincha |
| E28A | 402–408 | 6 | Pichincha |
| E35 | 408–430 | 22 | Pichincha, Cotopaxi |
| local roads | 430–457 | 27 | Cotopaxi |
- Mile 112 of this route: Cauca → Nariño (region line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Nariño → Carchi (international border)
- Mile 284 of this route: Carchi → Imbabura (region line)
- Mile 339 of this route: Imbabura → Pichincha (region line)
- Mile 420 of this route: Pichincha → Cotopaxi (region line)
Stops between Coconuco and Isinliví
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Morro del Tulcán (mile 16), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 16), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 383)
- Nature and outdoors: Cotopaxi National Park (mile 424)
- Museums and history: Morro del Tulcán (mile 16), Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (mile 16), St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto (mile 173), Sanctuary of Las Lajas (mile 227), Cochasquí (mile 351), La Capilla del Hombre (mile 383), Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (mile 389)
Morro del Tulcán
Morro del Tulcán is an Indigenous pyramid in the city of Popayán, in Colombia.
Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art
In Popayán, capital of Colombia's Cauca department, the Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art is mainly devoted to displaying sacred art.
St. Ezequiel Moreno Cathedral, Pasto
Pasto Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of Pasto and takes its name from St. Ezequiel Moreno, the friar who was appointed the city's bishop in 1895.
Sanctuary of Las Lajas
Built between 1916 and 1949 inside the Guáitara River canyon near Ipiales, the neo-Gothic Sanctuary of Las Lajas is reached by a bridge about 50 meters long. The Marian shrine also has a museum and a crypt.
Cochasquí
On the slopes of Mojanda, an inactive volcano in Pichincha province, Cochasquí is an archaeological site in Ecuador's northern highlands, 52 km north of Quito.
La Capilla del Hombre
Painter Oswaldo Guayasamín's La Capilla del Hombre is a purpose-built art museum in Bellavista, overlooking Quito, dedicated to the peoples of Latin America.
Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
Set in a colonial house built in the 17th century during Spanish rule, Casa del Alabado is a museum of pre-Columbian art in Quito.
El Carmen Alto church
On García Moreno street at Rocafuerte in Quito's historic center, El Carmen Alto is a Catholic complex of convent, church, and chapels, also known as the Monastery of Carmen Alto.
Cotopaxi National Park
Roughly 50 km south of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park spans parts of three provinces and surrounds Cotopaxi volcano, along with dormant Rumiñahui to the northwest and Sincholagua to the southeast.
More drives to Isinliví
- Baños to Isinliví
- Otavalo to Isinliví
- Alausi to Isinliví
- Ibarra to Isinliví
- Tulcán to Isinliví
- Loja to Isinliví
More drives from Coconuco
- Coconuco to Mindo, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Salinas de Guaranda, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Chugchilán, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Zumbahua, Ecuador
- Coconuco to Tababela, Ecuador
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Coconuco to Isinliví, Ecuador?
About 13 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 457 miles.
How far is Isinliví, Ecuador from Coconuco by car?
About 457 miles (735 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Coconuco to Isinliví drive cross the border?
At about mile 233, from Colombia into Ecuador.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Coconuco into Ecuador?
No visa needed unless you stay more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. A valid U.S. license is recognized for up to 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated February 18, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Coconuco to Isinliví drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel; Ecuador Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Colombia: Cauca (excluding Popayán)). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Coconuco to Isinliví?
In order: 25 NR C, E35, E282, E28B and E28A. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Coconuco and Isinliví?
Closest to the road: Morro del Tulcán (archaeological site, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Popayán Archdiocesan Museum of Religious Art (museum, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); La Capilla del Hombre (museum, mile 383, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.